Quilt Happy, Quilt Often

I did it!

I finally started my fitness program that I've been talking about, oh, forever. On my i-touch ipod I have an app called "Couch to 5K", a nine week program that takes you from a couch potato to a 5k. Not that this hiney of mine spends much time sitting on the couch, but it does spend most of its live long days sitting at the computer or the sewing machine.

Yes, it could use an overhaul.

I love this program! While you are listening, it alternates between "Walk Now" and "Run Now". Right now it's running for 60 seconds and walking for 90 seconds, for 20 minutes. The only part that I didn't like was when it said "You are half-way". I was like, "half-way? ONLY HALF-WAY?" But I hung in there and finished!

See that "Completed 12/26/09"? Yep, I DID THAT!

I'll try not whine too much when I can't walk tomorrow. 

I hope you had a wonderful holiday! We did. It was wonderful.

 

Quilt Happy,  Paula
 
 

 

Wishing you a very...

 

May you have a safe and happy day!

Quilt Happy, Paula 

Happy Birthday

December is a festive month for us. Not only do both my father in law and my mother in law celebrate their birthdays, but all three of my brothers in law do, as well as both of my girls!

Shelby celebrated her 18th birthday (!!!!!!!) in a big way by inviting 18 of her closest friends over to our house for a big bash. Were we a little nervous? Heck yeah! But it ended up being a lot of fun, with a great group of kids. They are all in band together and are very good friends. They didn't seem to mind being all squished together in our family room, and if all of the laughter was any indication, they had a good time too.

 

Hannah decided that for her birthday she just wanted to go out to dinner and movie with our family. We went to her favorite restaurant "Sweet Tomatoes", and then to the big 3D flick "Avatar". It was really good! The best part was wearing the really cool 3D glasses:

Then we came home and had cake and ice cream:

 
   

Happy birthday, my sweet, beautiful girls. I love you!

Quilt Happy, Paula
 
 

  

Redwork Snowman

Well, seeing how I already missed yesterday, so much for consistently posting every day till Christmas. I'm nothing if not consistently inconsistent, eh?

I have a good reason for not posting yesterday, which I will share tomorrow, since today it's time to post the new Redwork Seasons block! woohoo!

Here's the link to down load this cute little guy:

Download Seasons Snowman Block

To learn more about the free seasons sew-along you can go here.

Are you posting your blocks on your blog? Leave me a commnt with a link to your blog and I'll post it so everybody can share the stitching love.

Thanks for stitching along!

Quilt Happy, Paula 
  

"Sew into Rows, Sew the Rows Together"

You know that part in a quilt pattern? Where you're all done making the blocks and it's time to sew the blocks into rows, then sew the rows together to make the quilt top.

Well, I could make quilt blocks till the cows come home, cause I LOVE that part of quiltmaking. But sewing into rows? Not so much. And sewing the rows together? REALLY not so much. That part for me gets tedious and fussy and hard to handle as the quilt top grows. And no matter how carefully I label or pin, I almost ALWAYS get a block turned wrong, or a whole ROW sewn on going the wrong direction!

I've been working on a new pattern, using the remainder of my Maywood "Woolies" fabric. (Which is making me twitchy- must get more!) As you can see, I came to a screeching halt when it came time to sew my rows together.

You can see the threads from where I attempted to sew 2 rows together, and right off the bat got a row turned around the wrong way so I gave up.

 

And the best part of this quilt? Yes, of course, the polk a dots!

Now I'm off to sew these rows together. Wish me luck.

Quilt Happy, Paula
 
 
  

Counting Down

For some December posts, I thought it would be fun to count down the 12 days of Christmas with a post every day.

But, obviously, I missed the starting day. Imagine that.

Anyhoo, I'll start today, and if I miss a day (which is entirely possible ya know) don't hold it against me.

What better way to do a countdown than with these:

 

I found this pattern by "Tangle" online a few months ago, and asked my knitting-wiz sister in law to knit it for me, and I love it! Don't ya love it?

Little hats and mittens - with the numbers knitted IN the mittens and hats. How do you do that?

Anyhoo, here's wishing you a happy and not too crazy countdown to Christmas!

Quilt Happy, Paula
  

Goodness Gracious!

Yep, that's a NEGATIVE in front of that 10.3 degrees. Some might be used to that kind of cold, but us? Not so much. In fact, I would go so far as to say, HOLY CRAP.
  

King's Crown

Hey! Happy Monday! Hope you had a good weekend. We spent ours decorating for Christmas, putting up the christmas lights, and setting up the tree. We ended the day with a Christmas video "The Santa Claus" and a big pan of brownies. yum.

Got another pattern back from the printer - "King's Crown". woohoo! I've always wanted to make a quilt with red setting triangles, so this was really fun to make!

Also included in the pattern are the instructions for the 6" sampler block:

This will soon be added to my 6" Sampler Quilt:

 
  
If you belong to the Block Party Club you will also get the free pattern for the "K" project:

And the next block for the ABC stitchery quilt is, of course, 'K means you're kissable":

Just a few quick notes about the Block Party patterns and Club - the patterns themselves are available as regular patterns and are for sale here on my website and in quilt shops. If you join the Block Party Club, I will send you a pattern every month, along with a newsletter with the free projects. It's never too late to join - whenever you sign up you start with "A" and go from there.

And I'm now so HAPPY to tell you that the Club is available to you wonderful quilters in Canada and Australia! Thanks for your patience in getting that set up! I'm so appreciative to everybody who has joined the club - you guys are the best!

Anyhoo, happy Monday from Colorado, where yes again, we have snow...and Sami wishes he could go outside and play:

Quilt Happy! Paula
 

  
  
  

  
  
  
 
 

"Bless YOU!"

Have you seen the episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond" where Ray is in an airport restroom, and some guy sneezes all over him? What followed was much freaking out, chicken soup, whiney whining, and strep throat. I used to love that episode.

On our way to Arkansas last week, we stopped at a Burger King to grab something to eat. I was standing in line behind 2 guys who were busy chatting and ordering. All of the sudden one of the guys started doing that Ah- Ah!- thing that we do before a great big huge gigantic sneeze.

Apparently he didn't want to sneeze on the guy behind the counter, and apparently not knowing anyone was standing behind him, he turned around just in time to sneeze a great big huge gigantic sneeze right in my face.

EW!

EEWWWW!

For just a few seconds it seemed like time stood still. He looked totally mortified, the guy behind the counter stood there with his mouth wide open, and I'm sure I looked totally shocked.  Of course he apologized, of course I said it was OK, and of course the guy behind the counter could hardly breathe he was laughing so hard.

Can I say again, EEEEWWWWWW

Quilt Happy (and please cover your face when you sneeze), Paula

Fat and Happy

That's how we feel! We had a great Thanksgiving visit with my folks, where we spent a few days eating, playing games, eating, watching movies, eating, watching football, and oh yeah, eating!

We spent hours playing the card game "Ripple". Have you heard of it? Mimi ruled!

We had a great time! Thanks Grandpa and Mimi!

Since we've been home I've been stitching like a crazy woman. (What do people do who don't quilt?) And no, these aren't for Christmas. I guess I better get going on that too, eh?

These projects are soon to be Block Party projects! woohoo!

And speaking of the Block Party, I just have to say that I got my first sign up from Australia! (omigosh!) (Hi Judi!)  Welcome to the club!

Quilt Happy, Paula